Dishwashing machine



Jan. 30, 1951 J JONES 2,539,432

DISHWASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 10, 1945 Z5 Sheets-Sheet l 0) 1520822302 1 Jeffeflsoza/L. 06m,

Jan. 30, 1951 J. L; JONES DISHWASHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r I I u 1, v a

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J L JONES DISHWASHING MACHINE Jan. 30, 1951 Filed Oct. 10, 1945 Patented Jan. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to machines for washing such objects as dishes and the like and particularly to a machine in which the objects are carried through the washing chamber on an endless conveyor.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an endless conveyor mounted in the machine to carry tableware through the washing chamber. The conveyor consists of a pair of endless elements interconnected by cross members each of which is formed with a plurality of portions, pref erably of different lengths, which establish with corresponding portions of other members supporting partitions extending lengthwise of the conveyor to define compartments for different types of tableware.

With washing machines utilizing an endless conveyor, it is necessary to employ at the infeed and outfeed ends of the washing chamber curtains that will both m nimize the amount of spray that escapes from the chamber and that will yield when engaged by the tableware on the moving conveyor. For such use, it has been customary to use a canvas which was objectionable as the canvas soon became dirty and worn.

I provide closures which consist of sections of metal or other suitable stock interconnected by transversely disposed hinge means and slidably mounted on the to of the washing chamber for movement between a depending position in which the ports are substantially closed and a position in which the ports are open. Preferably each closure consists of a pair of vertically divided overlapping sections.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown an illustrative embodiment of my invention from which these and other novel features and advantages will be readily apparent.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows in a fragmentary view a cross section of the conveyor.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of the flexible closure on the infeed side of the washing chamber.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross section of the washing chamber. 4

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4, but showing the closure on the outfeed side of the washing chamber.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary face view of the closure of Fi 6.

Fig. 8 shows a sectional view of a manifold and spray device assembly.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a clip for holding the cross members of the conveyor against turning.

11 is a. side view of the clip of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section through a portion of the conveyor showing the clips assembled thereon.

-A dish washing or like machine in accordance with my invention consists of a cabinet generally indicated at 55 supported by legs l6 interconnected adjacent their lower ends to establish a support H.

The cabinet consists of a tank I8 and a Washing chamber l 9 through which such tableware as dishes and the like are carried by a conveyor, generally indicated at 2B. Conveyor shafts 2| and 22 are conventionally supported adjacent the top of the tank !8 adjacent each of its ends.

At one end of the support [1, I mount a motor 2-3 coupled to one end of a shaft 24 journalled in bearings 25 on a base 26 which also serves as a support for the pump 21. The other end of the shaft 24 has a. pulley 28 over which and the pulley 29 on the shaft 30 of the gear box 3i mounted on the other end of the support I! is trained a belt 32.

The driven shaft 33 of the gear box 3| has a sprocket indicated at 34 connected by a chain 35 to the sprocket 36 fast on the conveyor shaft 2!. Preferably the conveyor drive is enclosed by a housing 31.

At 3%. and 39 I have indicated cold and hot wash water conduits, respectively, by which the tank :8 is supplied with water. The tank l8 has an overflow pipe 40 and a drain 4|. At 42 I have indicated the intake of the pump 2'! protected by a screen indicated at 43 which may be removed for cleaning, through the door 44 which is of sufficient size and centrally located to make the interior of the tank [8 accessible for cleaning.

The outlet of the pump '21 has a riser 45 connected to and supporting a manifold indicated generally at 46 adjacent one side of the washing chamber l 9 and below the conveyor 20, as shown in Fig. 3. The manifold 46 consists of a bottom part 41 fast on the upper end of the riser 45 (see Figs. 3, 8 and 9) and a cover 48 having ribs 49 entrant of grooves 5% in the manifold part 41 to slidingly. interlock the bottom and cover of the manifold '46 together while permitting the cover 48 to be removed endwise from the machine.

The manifold cover 18 (Figs. 8 and 9) has upwardly projecting outlet ports having oppositely located pins 52 entrant of the L-shaped slots 53 in the sleeves 54 on the lower ends of the tubular spray devices 55. The spray devices have slots 55 disposed to deliver jets of water against dishes or the like supported on the conveyor 20. Preferably the caps 5'! closing the upper ends of the spray devices 54 are also connected thereto by a bayonet joint indicated generally at 58.

By this construction, the spray devices, which need frequent servicing, may be removed from the machine as a unit by sliding the manifold cover 48 out of one end of the chamber 19 and the individual spray devices may be quickly detached therefrom and disassembled for thorough cleaning. In practice, alike manifold and spray device ma be located adjacent each side of the washing chamber l9 but, for convenience, only one manifold is shown. As the faces of the dishes are disposed towards the manifolded spray devices, any desired means may be employed to wash the bottom surfaces of the dishes. The rinse water system may be of any desired type and is notshown to. simplify the drawings.

In accordance with my invention the conveyor 20 consists of a pair of chains 59 trained over sprockets 6i! on the conveyor shafts 2! and 22. The chains 59 are interconnected by cross members 6|. Preferably these constitute some of the pivots interconnectin the links of the chains 59. As. shown in Fig. 12, each of the links may be interconnected to one adjacent link by a pivot 52 and to the other adjacent link by a cross member 6|.

The cross member 6| may conveniently be formed from metal stock bent to establish loops 63, 64 and 65. The loops 6 3 and 55 are shown as inclined transversely of the conveyor away from the discharge devices and are shown of different length with the loops 54 being longer than the loops 63 but shorter than the loops 65.

The loops 63, 6d and 65 of the cross member 6! define a pair of compartments 55 and 55? extending lengthwise of the conveyor (Fig. 3). Plates, platters, saucers, trays, etc. are placed in the compartment 69 while the compartment 6'! is for bowls, cups and the like. The compartment 67 is also for silverware, which, for convenience, is placed in small, easily handled trays (not shown). Dishes and the like are placed with their faces directed towards the manifold spray devices.

When the cross members 6! are. of metal, I mountv on each of them a slat 68 of wood or other suitable stock slotted to receive the loops 53, 64 and 65. The slats are held in place on the cross members Bl by clips 69 which also serve to prevent rotation of the cross members relative to the chains.

Each clip 69, as may be seen in Figs. 10, 11 and 12, consists of a blank of bendable stock apertured to fit over the loops 63 and having adjacent one of its ends a pair of arms 19 adapted to be bent around the slat 68 and the cross member 6|. At its other end, the clip 69 is bent as at ll against the outer edge of the chain. The chains 59 are preferably supported at each side by tracks 12 and 13.

As dishes and the like are carried by the conveyor 29 into and out of the washing chamber [9, it is desirable to provide means for minimizing the amount of spray that may escape therefrom. In. accordance with my invention, as may be seen in Figs. 2, 4'7, I provide screens M at the infeed and outfeed ends of the chamber l9, closing the chamber a slight distance above the partition establishing loop 64 (see Figs. 2 and '7). Each of the screens 14 is preferably in two sections which overlap to permit the section engaged by the partition establishing loop 65 to open independent of the other section. Each section consists of a plurality of panels '15 hinged together as at 16. The top panel of each section of both screens 14 is hinged to a rod 1'! the ends of which travel in tracks l8 extendin along the top of the chamber l9 towards the rear thereof. Each rod H has a handle 19.

As the screen 14 at the infeed end of the chamber l9. swings inwardly, I have shown the infeed end of the chamber I9 as having a flange 80 against which the screen 14 normally rests. The upper ends of the flanges 80 are interconnected as at 8| to establish a stop engageable by the handle 19. to support the screen in its normal position. The screen 14 at the outfeed end of the chamber [9. swings outwardly and normally rests against internal flanges 8.2 at that end of the chamber IS. The ends of the tracks '18 are closed as at 83. to provide a stop to hold the screen 14 in its normal position.

By this construction, the screens 14 are opened by the tableware sufficiently to permit the passage of an article of that size. When it is desired to clean the interior of the washing chamber 19, either or both of the screens 74 may be slid into an inoperative position on top of the chamber [9. I

From the foregoing it will be apparent that dish washing machines in accordance with my invention are well adapted for efiicient operation and convenience in their servicing.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A conveyor for carrying tableware or the like through the washing chamber of a washing machine, said conveyor comprising a pair of chains and a plurality of cross members interconnecting said elements and constituting pivots interconnecting certain of the links of said chains, each of said members including a plurality of integral portions establishing with corresponding portions in other members, supporting partitions extending lengthwise of said conveyor to define compartments for different types of tableware, a cushioning element on each of said cross members of greater width than said cross members and having apertures to receive said portions, and clip means locking said element to said cross member.

2. A machine for washing tableware or the like comprising a base, a washing chamber on said base including spray devices located at one side thereof, and an endless conveyor mounted in said base and extending through said chamber, said conveyor comprising a pair of endless elements and a pluralityof cross members interconnecting said elements, each of said members including first, second and third portions establishing with corresponding portions of other members supporting partitions extending lengthwise of said conveyor to define compartments, said second and third portions of each member being inclined towards one of its ends and being progressively longer than said first portion which is adjacent said spray devices thereby to establish compartments for tableware of progressively larger size.

3. A conveyor for carrying tableware or the like through the washing chamber of a washing machine, said conveyor comprising a pair of chains and a plurality of cross members interconnecting said chains, each of said members including plurality of portions establishing with corresponding portions of other members partitions extending lengthwise of said conveyor, each of said cross members constituting a pivot interconnecting certain of the links of said chains, and a clip apertured to fit over one of said portions of each member, said clip including a pair of arms adjacent one of its ends in engagement with the cross member of that portion to lock said clip thereto, and the other end of said clip being disposed against the outer edge of the chain links interconnected by that member.

4. A conveyor for conveying tableware or the like through the washing chamber of a washing machine, said conveyor comprising pair of chains and a plurality of cross members interconnecting said chains, each of said members REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 498,549 Hodgdon May 30, 1893 1,404,706 Blakeslee Jan. 24, 1922 1,788,353 Zademach Jan. 6, 1931 

